CHAPTER 1
What is Criminology?
Chapter 1 Multiple Choice
Choose the best answer for each of the following.
1. Which one of the following is not one of the definitional perspectives found in contemporary
criminology?
a. political
b. sociological
c. environmental
d. legalistic
2. “Human conduct that is in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or
a local jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws” is a definition of
a. criminology
b. crime
c. criminal
d. deviance
3. The belief that crime is an antisocial act of such a nature that repression is necessary to
preserve the existing system of society is the basis of the __________ perspective on crime
a. legal
b. political
c. sociological
d. psychological
4. The psychological perspective sees crime primarily as
a. a violation of a law.
b. an offense against human relationships.
c. an antisocial act
d. problem behavior.
5. Which of the following statements about deviance and crime is true?
a. All deviant behavior is criminal
b. All criminal behavior is deviant
c. Deviant behavior and criminal behavior overlap
d. Deviant behavior and criminal behavior are mutually exclusive categories
6. You are running late to class and there is an exam today. To get to class on time, you drive
about 10 miles about the speed limit. This is an example of behavior that is
a. deviant but not criminal.
b. criminal but not deviant.
c. both deviant and criminal.
d. neither deviant nor criminal.
7. Which of the following behaviors are criminal only when committed by a child or youth?
a. Shoplifting a candy bar
b. Drinking alcohol
c. Speeding
d. Joyriding
8. The _______ perspective says that laws should be enacted to criminalize certain behaviors
when members of society generally agree that such laws are necessary?
a. consensus
b. sociological
c. pluralistic
d. legalistic
9. The pluralistic perspective suggests that behaviors are typically criminalized through
a. a political process
b. the general agreement of most members of society.
c. the existence of shared norms and values.
d. consensus.
10. The gun control debate is an example of the ______ perspective.
a. consensus
b. sociological
c. conflict
d. pluralistic
11. _________ is the field of study that is concerned primarily with the causes and consequences
of crime
a. Criminal justice
b. Criminology
c. Criminality
d. Criminalistics
12. A _______________ studies crime, criminals, and criminal behavior.
a. scientist
b. criminal justice professional
c. criminologist
d. criminalist
13. Which of the following would probably not fall within the field of criminalistics?
a. Forensics examiner
b. Polygraph operator
c. Fingerprint examiner
d. Correctional officer
14. Criminal justice focuses on
a. the control of lawbreaking.
b. the causes of crime.
c. the consequences of crime.
d. the victim.
15. A(n) ________ of crime attempts to explain all or most forms of criminal conduct through a
single, overarching approach.
a. complete
b. unicausal
c. integrated
d. general
16. The General Theory of Crime suggests that all types of criminal and deviant behavior can be
explained by a lack of self-control. This is an example of a(n) ______________ theory.
a. integrated
b. unicausal
c. bicameral
d. complete
17. ___________ criminology involves taking the results of criminological research and
converting it into workable social policy and practice.
a. Experimental
b. Translational
c. Theoretical
d. Policy-based
18. The social _______ perspective holds that crime manifests from underlying social issues
such as poverty, discrimination, and pervasive family violence.
a. scientific
b. responsibility
c. deviance
d. problems
19. Which of the following crime reduction or prevention strategies is most characteristic of the
social problems perspective?
a. A government-funded initiative to enhance educational opportunities among low-
income individuals
b. A move to broaden police powers by increasing the number of exceptions to the
Exclusionary Rule
c. Rewriting state statutes to increase the severity of punishment for violent offenders,
such as three-strikes laws
d. Allocating federal funds to help states build and operate more prisons
20. Which of the following statements about the social problems perspective is not true?
a. It suggests that crime is a symptom of underlying social problems such as poverty and
discrimination
b. It emphasizes the development of social and educational opportunities as a way of
dealing with the crime problem
c. It emphasizes crime prevention efforts such as harsher sentences and the development
of rehabilitation programs
d. It sees crime as a public health problem as well as a criminal justice problem.
21. The social responsibility perspective focuses on the
a. individual.
b. society.
c. government.
d. justice system.
22. Which of the following recent developments in national crime control policy was not
substantially influenced by the social responsibility perspective?
a. The increase in the number of federal capital crimes
b. The enactment of a federal three-strikes law
c. The abolition of federal parole
d. The creation of the Job Corps to reduce unemployment by encouraging the
development of job skills
23. This book recognizes that crime is not an isolated individual activity but a(n) _______ event.
a. social
b. economic
c. deviant
d. political
24. An American visitor witnessing a crime in Japan may interpret the events differently than
someone born within the Japanese culture. This is an example of
a. intercultural perspective.
b. social relativity.
c. deviant perception.
d. politicization.
25. Ultimately, crime is a result of the coming together of inputs provided by all but which of the
following?
a. The victim
b. The criminal justice system
c. Society
d. The media
26. Which of the following is a background contribution by the offender?
a. A genetic inventory
b. A peculiar motivation
c. A specific intent
d. A drug-induced state of mind
27. The ______ contributes to a criminal event by failing to prevent criminal activity.
a. victim
b. offender
c. criminal justice system
d. general public
28. Victims may actively contribute to their own victimization through the appearance of
a. defensiveness.
b. exposure.
c. defenselessness.
d. precipitation.
29. __________ is the process by which one acquires the cultural values of one’s society.
a. Socialization
b. Integration
c. Social relativity
d. Criminalistics
30. Many modern criminologists operate from a(n) _______ perspective.
a. psychological
b. political
c. economic
d. sociological
Chapter 1 True-False
Choose whether each statement is true or false.
1. The legalistic perspective defines crime as a violation of the criminal law.
a. True
b. False
2. Adopting the psychological perspective of crime would greatly expand the scope of
criminology.
a. True
b. False
3. All criminal behavior is deviant.
a. True
b. False
4. Some behaviors are considered to be crimes only if they are committed by a child.
a. True
b. False
5. The pluralistic perspective is most applicable to societies characterized by a shared belief
system.
a. True
b. False
6. The difficulty in reaching agreement regarding legalizing marijuana is an example of social
consensus.
a. True
b. False
7. Criminology is an interdisciplinary field.
a. True
b. False
8. Criminal justice focuses on questions about the causes of crime.
a. True
b. False
9. A correctional officer is a criminalist.
a. True
b. False
10. There is a growing tendency to apply the term criminologist to anyone who works in the
criminal justice field.
a. True
b. False
11. A theory that attempts to explain all types of criminal behavior is a general theory of crime.
a. True
b. False
12. An integrated theory is one that proposes a single identifiable cause for all serious criminal
behavior.
a. True
b. False
13. Translational criminology focuses on taking research findings and converting them into
social policy.
a. True
b. False
14. A social program that encourages teenagers to stay in school and graduate is typical of the
social problems perspective.
a. True
b. False
15. The social responsibility perspective considers the cause of crime to be individual
perpetrators.
a. True
b. False
16. The abolition of federal parole and the creation of the federal three-strikes law were
influenced by the social problems perspective.
a. True
b. False
17. Because crime is a social event, it can have more than one interpretation.
a. True
b. False
18. Social relativity means that the offender and the victim interpret crime in a similar way.
a. True
b. False
19. The consequences of crime include both outputs and interpretations.
a. True
b. False
20. The primacy of sociology should not prevent criminologists from recognizing contributions
from other perspectives.
a. True
b. False
1. Seeing crime as the result of criteria that have been built into the law by powerful groups is the
basis of the __________ perspective on crime.
2. The sociological perspective considers crime to be a(n) __________ act.
3. ________ is human activity that violates social norms.
4. Truancy and running away from home are examples of __________.
5. The __________ perspective suggests that behaviors should be criminalized when members of
society generally agree that such laws are necessary.
6. _________ focuses on questions about the causes of criminal behavior.
7. ___________ criminology proposes explanations for criminal behavior.
8. The social _________ perspective argues that criminal offenders should be dealt with
individually.
9. Social _______ means that social events are interpreted differently according to an
individual’s cultural experiences and personal interests.
10. Background causes of crime are known as ___________.
11. A specific intent is an example of a __________ contribution to crime by the offender.
12. An innocent victim killed outside his/her home by random gunfire from a drive-by shooting
is a __________ participant in the crime.
13. A situation in which someone starts a fight but ends up being severely beaten is an example
of victim ___________.
14. The field of ___________ has contributed the most to criminology
Chapter 1 Matching
1. Match the definitional perspective to its view of crime
1. Legalistic
a. Crime is defined in terms of power
structures existing in society
2. Political
b. Crime is an antisocial act that needs to be
repressed to preserve the existing social
system
3. Sociological
c. Crime is a form of social maladjustment or
problem behavior
4. Psychological
d. Crime is behavior that violates the criminal
law
2. Match the role to the type of field or study within criminology.
1. Polygraph examiner
a. Criminologists
2. Probation officer
b. Criminalistics
3. Creating social policy
c. Criminal Justice
4. Public advocacy
5. Correctional officer
6. Constructing theories
7. Ballistics
8. Victim advocate
9. Crime-scene photographer
10. Testing hypotheses
11. Fingerprint examiner
12. Prosecutor
3. Match the policy to the underlying perspective
1. Head Start program of comprehensive early
childhood education
a. Social problems perspective
2. Federal allocations to allow states to
expand their prison systems
b. Social responsibility perspective
3. A Job Corps initiative to help young people
earn a high school diploma and find and keep
a good job
4. Three-strikes laws to mandate life
imprisonment for third-time violent felons
5. Enhanced sentences for drug trafficking
Chapter 1 Essay
Answer the following questions.
1. What are the various definitional perspectives by which crime can be defined and how does
each perspective define crime? What is deviant behavior? What are the similarities and
differences between criminal behavior and deviant behavior?
2. What is criminology and what is a criminologist? What career paths are available for
individuals earning various degrees in criminology?
3. What are the two contrasting viewpoints on which the book is built? Explain each and give
examples of policies based on each viewpoint.
Chapter 1 Critical Thinking
Answer the following questions.
1. What limitations exist with the legal perspective of crime?
2. How do the different roles of criminologists, criminalities, and criminal justice vary in the
field? How do these roles contribute to the field of criminology? Who contributes to social
policy?